5.3 Chemical Effect - Electric Cells
5.3 Chemical Effect - Electric Cells
5.3 Chemical Effect - Electric Cells
• Cells
• Internal resistance
• Secondary cells
• Terminal potential difference
• Emf
Applications and skills
• Investigating practical electric cells (both primary and
secondary)
• Describing the discharge characteristic of a simple cell
(variation of terminal potential difference with time)
• Identifying the direction of current flow required to recharge a
cell
• Determining internal resistance experimentally
• Solving problems involving emf, internal resistance and other
electrical quantities
Electric Cells
• Electric cells operate as direct current (DC) devices that drive
charges in one direction.
• The electron charge carriers leave the negative terminal of the
cell and re-enter the cell at the positive terminal.
• The positive terminal has a higher potential than the negative
terminal.
• A current will be driven around a circuit when a cell is connected.
• The chemical energy of the battery is eventually converted into
thermal energy (wires), into mechanical work (motor) and into
chemical again if it is used to charge another battery in the
external circuit.
• Within the cell itself, negative charge carriers are pushed from
the negative to the positive terminal. This requires work that
must be done on the charge carriers. This work is provided by the
chemical energy stored in the energy and is released by chemical
reactions taking place inside the battery.
Ideal vs Real Cells
Ideal Battery Real Battery
Since 𝜀 = 𝐼(𝑅 + 𝑟)
• We can rearrange the above equation;
𝜀 = 𝐼𝑅 + 𝐼𝑟
• and then to 𝜀 = 𝑉 + 𝐼𝑟
r = 0.54
Primary and Secondary Cells
What is the difference?
Primary and Secondary Cells
• Batteries are either primary or secondary.
• Primary batteries can be used only once because the chemical
reactions that supply the electrical current are irreversible.
• Secondary (or storage) batteries can be used, charged, and
reused. In these batteries, the chemical reactions that supply
electrical current are readily reversed so that the battery is
charged.
• Primary batteries are common since they are cheap and easy
to use. Familiar primary battery uses are in flashlights,
watches, toys, and radios.
• The most common use for secondary (storage) batteries is for
starting, lighting, and ignition (SLI) in automobiles and engine-
generator sets. Other applications include uninterruptible
power supplies (UPSs) for emergency and backup power,
electric vehicles (traction), telecommunications, and portable
tools.
Chemistry of a primary cell
Leclanché cell
• It is a primary cell invented by
Georges Leclanché in 1886.
• Zinc atoms on the inside surface of
the case oxidize to become positive
ions. They then begin to move away
from the inside of the case through
the chloride paste leaving the case
negatively charged.
• When the cell is connected to an
external circuit, these electrons
move around the circuit eventually
reaching the carbon rod.
• A reaction inside the cell uses these
electrons together with the
components of the cell eventually
forming the waste products of the
cell.
Chemistry of a secondary cell
Lead-acid accumulator
• It was invented by Gaston Planté in 1859.
• In its charged state, the cell consists of two plates, one of
metallic lead, the other of lead (IV) oxide immersed I a bath of
dilute sulphuric acid.
• During discharge when the cell is supplying current to an
external circuit, the lead plate reacts with the acid to form
lead (II) sulphate and the production of two free electrons.
• At the oxide plate, electrons are gained and lead (II) sulphate
is formed. The liquid surrounding the plates becomes dilute.
• During charging, electrons are forced from the positive plate
by an external circuit and forced onto the negative plate.
• The charge-recharge cycle can be repeated many times.
Investigate: Discharge of a cell
Set up a circuit to investigate how the terminal volatge across
the cell varies with time from the start of the discharge.
(a) 0.0114 (bi) 1050A (bii) 12600 W (ci) Q=1.8 x 105C (cii) 28.6 min
Homework
Cambridge pg 230
Pg 230 Q30, 32, 33, 35 and 36